Chimes-striking mechanism



G. L. SMITH CRIMES STRIKING MECHANI SM Feb. 9 1926.

Filed Nov. 23, 1921 2 Sheets$heet A TTORNE Y.

Feb. 1926. 1,572,167 G. L. SMITH CHIMES STRI KING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 23, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,572,167 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. SMITH, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SMITH CHIltIZSS CLOCK COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

CHIIVIES-STRIKING MECHANISM.

Application filed November 23, 1921.

To all 'w/z cm it may concern Be it known that I, Gnonon L. SMITH, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Fort lVayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in '(lhimes-Striking Mechanism, of which the following' is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in chimes striking mechanism, and the object thereof is to provide apparatus adapted to be periodicallyoperated and which will, during its operation, strike a chime member or similar object a series of blows in timed sequence as in tolling, or, which will strike a semesof chime members selectively in such cal make and break rotor for controlling the c auxiliary apparatus Fig. 4c isan end elevation of the appara tus,-the motor being omitted; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus, there being a portionlno-ken away.

The characters appearing in the description referto part-s shown in the drawings and designated thereon by corresponding characters The invention comprises a base 1 having standards 2 fixed thereon and in which is mounted a main shaft 3 that is adapted to have both rotary and longitudinal reciprocating movement in the standards 2. The shaft 3 has in connection with one of its ends a swivel head 4 provided with a cross bar 5, and the adjacent standard 2 has bearing relation with another cross bar 6 that has a connection at each end with the corresponding end of the cross bar 5 by means of a spring 7 and adjusting screw 8, the springs exerting a force tending to cause the shaft 3 to move lengthwise in the standards 2 in the direction of its end opposite the swivel head.

The main shaft 3 has fixed thereon a gear Serial No. 517,191.

wheel 9 that has driven relation with a wide faced pinion 10, which is mounted upon an intermediate shaft 11, the latter being mounted in a pair of standards 12, and the intermediate shaft has fired thereon a worm wheel 13 that has driven relation with a worm 14s on a drive shaft 15 which is connected with an electrical motor 16 to be rotated thereby.

Mounted loosely upon the main shaft 3 is a gear wheel 1? upon the hub 18 of which is arranged a projecting roller 19, and fixed concentrically upon the main shaft 3 is a barrel 20, one end of which is shaped to form a spiral cam 19. The gear wheel 17 has driven relation with another gear wheel that is fixed on a countershaft 23 which is mounted in standards 2-1: on the base, and the countershaft 23 also has fix d thereon a back gear 25 having driven relation with a wide faced pinion 26 that is fixed on the main shaft 3, so that as the main shaft rotates, the gear-17 will also be rotatet through the medium of the back gear 25, countershaft and the gear wheel 22, the same being so proportioiied that the velocity of the main shaft exceeds that of the gear wheel 17 and consequently the cam 21 bearing against the roller 19 has progressive movement in relation therewith in the direction of rotation. Also, the main shaft caused to move endwise toward the swivel head 4 during the progressive movement of the cam on the roller 19, except during the period when the offset 27 in the cam even takes the roller. l5) and permits the main shaft upon which the cam is mounted to rc turn in the opposite direction under the influence of the tension device comprising the spring actuated swivel head. The pinion 10 on the intermediate shaft and'th'e pinion 26 on the main shaft are of sutticient breadth as to remain in mesh respectively with the gear wheel 9 and the gear wheel 25 throughout the endwise reciprocal movements of the main shaft 3.

lllmil the main shaft 3 are fixed a series of drums 28, each of which has a series of projectin lugs 29 thereon arranged in a spiral path, and in juxtaposition with said drums are arranged a corresponding series of trip hannners 30, each of which s operative relation with the correspondiin drum, the lugs thereon having engagement in sec cessire order with the hammer as the drain revolves and moves lengthwise. Each hammer 30 is mounted in a corresponding post 31, and the shank 32 of the hammer normally rests against an adjustable stop 33 under the tension of a spring 34 which is connected with the hammer.

The stops 33 are mounted in a universal bar 35 that receives support "from a series of posts 36 fixed upon the base, and a chime member 37 is suspended in. front of eachhammer. in position to receive the impact of the hammer as it is actuated, thus, the chime members are caused to give forth sound, and it is the intention that the various chime inen'ibers shall be such as to ditler from each other in tone so that as the 'arious hammers are actuated the corresponding chime members will be sounded accordingly and a melody efl ected.

In the operation of the mechanism, as the main shaft rotates the cam tace E l progresses on the roller 19 causing gradual endwise movement of the shatt. Thus, the drums on the shaft have longitudinal and rotary movement, and the projecting lugs are brought in succession into operable engagement with the corresponding hammers.

By this arrangement each lug upon passing from engagement with the corresponding hammer is carried out out the way oi the hammer so as to clear it upon succeeding revolutions until the drums are restored to their initial positions by the return endwise movement of the shaft.

As a means of controlling the chimes striking apparatus, the motor 16 is connected up with a source of energy 38 by means of conductors 39 and 40. The conductor 39 has connection between the motor and source of energy with a make and break device comprising a drum 41 mounted on the countershaft 23 and provided with flanges L2 and 4:3,the latter having a notch l-l therein. A pair of contact springs 45 and 46 mounted respectively on posts 47 and 48, and having engagement with the corresponding flanges 42 and 43, are connected with the conductor 39 so that the current for the motor passes normally through the drum, and the circuit therethrough isbroken when the spring 4-6 enters the notch a l in the flange 48.

Also, the conductor 39 has a shunt connection 49 including a switch 50 for same through which current may be supplied from the source of energy to the motor irrespective of the make and break device. The branches 51 and 52 in the diagram are indicative ot' the relation of the conductor 39 with the drum 41, designated 41 in the diagram.

A second "make and break device is operably connected with a countershatt 23, and comprises a drum 53 having flanges in and 55, the latter having a contact. lug'56, there being a contact spring 57 constantly engaging the flange 5e and a contact spring 58 adapted to form electrical connection with the lug 56 periodically as the drum is rotated. These contact spring are mounted on corresponding posts 59 and (S0 and are electrically connected by means o'l conductors (ii and ($2 with. such other electrically operated and controlled apparatus (not saown) as may be desired and which forms no part ol. the present invention.

It is the intention that the shunt switch 50 may be either manually operated, or momentarily closed by any suitable automatic mechanism (not shown), such as a clock arranged in the usual way to close an electrical circuit at predetermined periods. ivhen the switch 50 is closed, current is supplied from the source o't energy 38 to the motor lti so that movement is imparted to the mechanism connected therewith. "In this manner the main shalt 3 t0- gcthcr with the drums thereon are caused to rewilvc, the hammers being respectively actuated as they are engaged by the projecting lugs on the corresponding drums in the sequence oi their arrangement thereon. Also, the drums ll and 53 are caused to revolve as the countershatt 23 is rotated 50 that the notch 4st: in the flange passes the spring to when contact of the spring with the flange establishes a closed circuit through the conductor 39, maintaining a connection for the supply of current to the motor, though the shunt switch 50 be reopened, until the spring 46 again enters the notch 44 and thus breaks the circuit, at which time the motor and gearing driven thereby ceases operation. Thus, it will appear that the supply of current to the motor is established when the shunt Switch is closed, and that the supply is maintained through the make and break device until the gear mechanism completes its cycle of movement and the spring 4-6 of the make and break device re-enters the notch 44 and thereby breaks the circuit through which the current to the motor is supplied.

By connecting the conductors 61 and 62 in a circuit controlling electrical apparatus apart from the present invention, the same may be caused to periodically function as the drum 53 rotates and the circuit through the conductors is closed by the contact of the spring 58 and the lug 56.

hat I claim is 1. In striking apparatus for chimes, a. main shaft; a motor actuated gearing adapted to vimpart rotating movement to the main shaft; a mechanism in operable relation with the shaft adapted to impart thereto endwise reciprocating movement; a series of drums tixed on the main shaft, each drum having a series 0t projecting lugs arranged in a spiral path thereon; a

series of chime members; a series of trip hammers arranged respectively to have striking relation with the chimes correspondingly and to be actuated separately by the corresponding drums; an electrical make and break device actuated by the mechanism and having connection with the motor for controlling the same and a switch controlled shunt for controlling the motor independently of said make and break device.

2. In chimes striking apparatus, a series of chime members; a series of trip hammers for said chimes; an actuating member having a separate group of projecting lugs arranged in a spiral series for each hammer; means for imparting rotary move- ,ment to the actuating member; and mechanism adapted to impart lengthwise reciproeating movement to said actuating member.

3. In chimes striking apparatus, a series of chime members; a corresponding series of trip hammers therefor; an actuating member for each hammer; means for imparting rotary movement to the actuating member; a rotary bearing device axially alined with the actuating member; a back gearing driven by the actuating member and having operable relation with the hearing member; a spiral cam on the actuating member engaging the bearing member and operable to move said operating member longitudinally; and a tension device acting against the actuating member so as to hold the cam in constant contact with the hearing member.

4. In striking apparatus for chimes, a main shaft having longitudinal and rotary movement; a series of drums fixed on the shaft, each drum having a series of projecting lugs spirally arranged thereon; a series of chime members; a series of trip hammers arranged respectively in striking relation with the corresponding chimes and actuated respectively by the lugs on the corresponding drums; electrically actuated driving means for the main shaft; and an electrical make and break device having actuated relation with the main shaft and adapted to control the driving means.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a series of chime members; striking members for the respective chime members; an actuating member; engaging means on the actuating member for the respective striking members; driving means for the actuating member; and mechanism for imparting rotary and longitudinal movement to said actuating member.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature.

GEORGE L. SMITH. 

